A JOURNEY UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 377 



of temper, they display these mingled qualities in a very ludicrous 

 manner whenever they are alarmed by a strange object. 



" They commence whisking their long white tails," says Gum- 

 ming, " in a most eccentric manner ; then, springing suddenly into 

 the air, they begin pawing and capering, and pursue each other in 

 circles at their utmost speed. Suddenly they all pull up together 

 to overhaul the intruder, when some of the bulls will often com- 

 mence fighting in the most violent manner, dropping on their knees 

 at every shock; then, quickly wheeling about, they kick up their 

 heels, whirl their tails with a fantastic flourish, and scour across the 

 plain, enveloped in a cloud of dust." On account of these extraor- 

 dinary monoeuvres, the gnu is called wildebeest by the Dutch settlers. 



VERY INQUISITIVE, EVEN AT RISK OF LIFE. 



The faculty of curiosity is largely developed in the gnu, which 

 can never resist the temptation of inspecting any strange object, 

 although at the risk of its life. When a gnu first catches sight of 

 any unknown being, he sets off at full speed, as if desirous of get- 

 ting to the farthest possible distance from the terrifying object. 

 Soon, however, the feeling of curiosity vanquishes the passion of 

 fear, and the animal halts to reconnoitre. 



He then gallops in a circle round the cause of his dread, halt- 

 ing occasionally, and ever drawing nearer. By taking advantage 

 of this disposition, a hunter has been enabled to attract towards 

 himself a herd of gnus which were feeding out of gunshot, merely 

 by tying a red handkerchief to the muzzle of his gun. 



The inquisitive animals were so fascinated with the fluttering 

 lure, that they actually approached so near as to charge at the hand- 

 kerchief, and forced the hunter to consult his own safety by lower- 

 ing his flag. The same ruse is frequently employed on the prairies 

 of America, when the hunters desire to get a shot at a herd of 

 prong-buck antelopes. 



Several experiments have been made in order to ascertain 

 whether the gnu is capable of domestication. As far as the prac- 

 ticability of such a scheme was concerned, the experiments were 

 perfectly successful, but there is a great drawback in the shape of a 



